Incarceration rates vary from state to state.We must remember that correlation is not causation but we can ask: "what state level factors might be associated with the state incarceration rate?

I drew a sample of 16 states using a random sampling method (Chapter 7).Using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Census Bureau, Department of education and the FBI, I gathered published data on:

• Incarceration Rate per 100,000 Adults (2016)
• FBI - Total Crime Rate (2016)

1. Before you look at the data (on the next page), state appropriate null and research hypotheses concerning the relationship between Incarceration Rate and Total Crime Rate

Incarceration

Total crime

rate per 100,000

Rate

U.S. residents

ages 18 or older (a)

(b)

Year

2016

2016

State

Alabama

1080

3480.10

Arkansas

1050

3819.50

Connecticut

530

2029.40

Florida

900

3117.10

Idaho

910

1974.50

Iowa

560

2376.60

Louisiana

1270

3863.80

Massachusetts

360

1938.00

Mississippi

1260

3048.60

Nebraska

610

2554.30

New Jersey

460

1789.60

Oklahoma

1310

3432.70

Rhode Island

370

2137.60

Tennessee

930

3487.00

Vermont

340

2261.30

West Virginia

690

2405.30

Mean

789.38

2732.21

SD

342.06

719.18